Watering Well

When starting from seed, water with a gentle spray two to three times a day. Photo by Amy von Chamier.

Watering Well

Guest Article for the Tallahassee Democrat

March 17, 2017, Release for the Tallahassee Democrat

By Amy von Chamier

Sun requirements are listed on plant tags: full sun, part sun, shade. Mulches build the soil and fertilizers provide nutrients. Watering plants regularly and consistently is also crucial to growing plants. Many gardeners let the irrigation system do the watering, but only a well-designed system will fulfill all the gardens’ watering needs.

Watering the right amount depends on many factors. Knowing your soil and climate will tell you much of what you need to know to irrigate accurately. Frequency and depth of watering must be determined by the soil of the planting site, time between rain events, as well as the plants individual watering needs.

To better understand the soil, to determine how much water to supply; take a good look. Several hours after the site has been watered, dig a small hole a few inches deep. Take a handful of soil and squeeze it. If the water drips out between your fingers, smells sour, or water can be squeezed from the soil, the site is getting too much water. If the soil is dry or crumbles when you open your fingers, there is not enough water. If the soil stays in a clump when you open your hand, moisture is just right. Knowing the variations of the soil on the site is helpful in understanding areas in need of individual attention. Sandy soils dry out quickly and need to be watered more often, while soils high in clay will hold onto water much longer. The goal is to maintain even and consistent soil moisture for optimal growth, especially while plants are being established.

Get to know your soil by squeezing it between your fingers. Photo by Amy von Chamier.

Establishing trees and shrubs can take some time. A nursery grown plant is considered established when it is growing as fast as it was before it was planted. Watering the root ball daily, or every other day, until roots are established, can take some time. The rule, generally, is for every inch in trunk diameter, give one-half to three gallons of water daily for that many weeks, then every other day for that many months, and then weekly until established. For example, a tree with a trunk up to two inches, planted in well-drained soil, should be given three gallons of water daily for two weeks, every other day for two months, and then weekly until vigorous growth resumes. The checking of soil for moisture is a good practice during this regime. Supplemental irrigation is not required after this point, and an extensive root system makes a drought tolerant tree. It should be noted, starting with smaller trees and shrubs requires a shorter time of intensive irrigation.

Starting plants from seed requires a different strategy. Whether it is a lawn or a bed of lettuce being planted, seeds need special care to get growing. The soil must be kept moist but not overly saturated until seeds have a good start. A gentle spray two or three times a day will keep the soil from drying out. Allowed to dry out before their roots are established, seeds will die, resulting in failure. Watering with too much pressure can wash seeds away, expose them, or bury them too deeply; seeds must be protected from a heavy down pour before they have established. Over saturating the soil can cause seeds to float, and increase the incidence of disease in which the vulnerable seeds can succumb. As seedlings grow, water can be given less often, but the volume of water should be increased.

For production of fruits and vegetables, a steady supply of water must be maintained. Watering in the morning reduces water lost to evaporation, as well as promoting healthy plants by not extending dew time, and therefore preventing water and soil borne diseases. It is best to hand water the soil directly if possible, but when not possible, consider using water saving systems like micro irrigation and drip systems.

A Florida-Friendly lawn and landscape requires less irrigation than one might think. Consider this: according to University of Florida studies, a well-established lawn of bahiagrass requires 33 inches of water per year. The average yearly rainfall in Tallahassee, according to NOAA, is 59.2 inches. Because rain falls irregularly, the task, for those who wish to have a robust landscape, is to make sure that water is provided to their plants when rainfall is insufficient. Waiting for grass to wilt before irrigating turf grass is recommended by UF/IFAS. Thirty to fifty percent leaf wilt is the threshold described in the Florida-Friendly Landscaping guidelines. One inch of irrigation wets the soil six to 12 inches deep. How often irrigation must be supplied is site specific and dependent on the soil and drainage. Checking the soil is an important part of determining how often a landscape needs watering. Locating plants with similar needs together helps to simplify landscape irrigation. To learn more about Florida-Friendly Landscaping, visit: http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/

Capturing rainwater and preventing runoff are important to help preserve water quality in Florida. Run-off can collect nutrients and pollutants and have a negative impact on natural waterways. A rain garden is a good way to capture water. Harvesting rainwater by using a rain barrel is also a good way homeowners can have a positive impact on Florida water quality.